Serendipity

Chapter 29

They all had to practically force me to come inside.

The party was supposed to start at four, but it never did.

It's snowing outside.

The sun is gone, and it's just black outside. They've got me in the living room.

"She'll come back." Mrs. Schuler says to me quietly. She's the first person to speak to me about Carmen.

I've not even had the strength to look at anybody, but I look up at her.

"It's in her blood. They always come back." Mr. Schuler says. "She used to run off all the time."

"I've left Blake tons of times." Del pitches in.

"You have no idea how much I bitch Cooper." Caroline mumbles.

"I've left your father more times than I can count." Mom says.

I don't say anything.

"It's part of relationships. You fight, you make up." Dad shrugs.

Everyone nods, agreeing. It's nine thirty now. Everyone ate dinner, but I just shook my head at the thought of food.

Blake's parent's start muttering about how much they've left each other, and so do Del's parents.

I watch the minutes pass. I bury my head in my hands, staring at her phone on the coffee table.

The smudges from her fingers are on it.

I wish I could hold her right now.

I knot my fingers in my hair, desperately trying not to cry.

Sunshine, come back to me.

I shut my eyes, sighing.

The front door slams.

I jump up, tripping over my own feet, and she comes running into the living room. Her shirt is covered in ice and snow. She's crying, makeup running all over her face.

She has a plastic container in her hand, and her lips are blue.

"I-I got you brownies, but I ate all of them." She says, crying. "I'm sorry. I was gonna get you more, but I hydroplaned over the median into the ditch on the other side of the road."

I open my mouth to reply, but I have no clue what to say.

"I'm sorry, Tyler." She whispers. "I'm sorry I'm such a bitch. I'm sorry I was so rude to you. I'm sorry I ate your brownies. I'm sorry I left. I'm gonna get you more brownies. I promise I will."

I try to find the right words, but I can't.

"I'm not mad at you anymore." I whisper.

"You're not?" she whispers.

I shake my head.

"But..." she looks so frustrated. "No, you shouldn't be forgiving me." she says.

"Carmen, I love you. I don't care. I'm not mad anymore."

She starts sobbing.

"Why?"

"Why what?" I ask. I feel literal, physical pain in my chest seeing her cry this hard.

"Why do you still love me?"

"I-" I cut off. "I don't even know how to begin to answer that question. I just do."

She just keeps crying.

"Maybe it's because you bitched at me for a mess. Maybe it's because you make me want to rip my hair out and kiss you at the same time. Maybe it's because you're so stubborn, so stubborn it's angering."